In my Junior year in college, I had a roommate who had just transferred from another school. From day one, this guy looked like he was on fire for the Lord, like the kind of Christian who didn’t just walk into the faith but sprinted in like he had a personal appointment with Jesus Himself.

I don’t recall how long he had been a believer, but he landed on campus ready to go full throttle for the Kingdom. If there was a campus award for "Most Likely to Become the Next Apostle Paul," he would’ve won it hands down. I was already involved in our campus Christian fellowship, but this guy? He took things to another level. He was the one rallying us to read the Bible, keeping us up all night in prayer (sometimes without warning), and pushing us to evangelize with the urgency of John the Baptist.

Now, there were times when he was a little rigid, even to the point where he might side-eye you for saying "Good morning" instead of "Grace and peace." Yet, despite his sometimes-Pharisaical levels of holiness, you couldn’t help but admire his passion for Jesus.

And then… summer break happened.

When we returned to campus, I heard rumors that he had "fallen off." But nothing could have prepared me for the first night I saw him back on campus. The transformation was jarring. First off, he was smoking something when I ran into him (we were no longer roommates), and was surrounded by a few girls with reputations that did not exactly scream Proverbs 31. That pattern continued throughout the semester. And just like that, the guy who once passionately preached against worldliness had become the campus representative for it. He ghosted our fellowship group completely, and to this day, we don’t really know what became of him.

Now, contrast that with another experience.

Years later, when I was serving as a youth leader and young adult pastor, we had some Sunday School kids who were so wild, I was convinced some of them would grow up to lead a cult, or at the very least, become motivational speakers with questionable theology. If you had asked me back then, I’d have confidently bet money that these kids were destined for a life of orange jumpsuits and court-appointed lawyers. Yet, to my surprise, many of them matured, not just into responsible adults, but into solid men and women of faith, some even becoming pastors, ministry leaders, and passionate servants of Christ.

Ever witnessed something like this? People who seemed so on fire for Jesus, only to drift away? While others who started out as walking red flags, ended up becoming examples of God’s transforming grace?

What happens in these cases? Why does one person’s faith take root, while another's withers away? What made the difference? Was it how they started? Who they hung out with? Maybe it was Netflix, or too many selfies, or too much Red Dye No. 3? Something had to have happened!

Well, that’s exactly what I want to explore in Mark 4:1-20.

Let me set the scene. This parable is in response to the events of Mark 3. The religious leaders had just witnessed His miracles, heard His teaching, and still rejected Him. Not only that, they went as far as accusing Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan. In doing so, they weren’t just opposing Jesus, they were hardening their hearts against the very work of God, thereby blaspheming the Holy Spirit and committing the unpardonable sin. So, in response, Jesus tells this parable, not just to teach, but to expose the true condition of the heart.

You can read the full story here, but for context, here is verse 1-8:

““Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.””

— Mark 4:1-8

This story is not really about farming, nor is it a lesson in agricultural best practices. It’s about the receptivity of the heart to the Gospel. At its core, the Gospel message is this: We are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone, not by our own efforts, performance, or religious rule-keeping. The four types of soil in this parable represent four different heart conditions and four different responses to God’s invitation to eternal life.

And here’s the big idea that flows from the passage and that will shape everything else we discuss: THE MOST RELIABLE INDICATOR OF SALVATION IN YOUR LIFE IS FRUIT, NOT JUST PRETTY FLOWERS.

That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, “…by their FRUIT you will recognize [my followers].”

So, let’s talk about it—what kind of heart do you have?

The Hardened Heart

Jesus explains in Mark 4:14-15: "The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them."

Farming in Jesus’ time wasn’t done with neat, symmetrical rows like we see today. There were no fancy tractors or high-tech irrigation systems. Instead, a farmer would walk across his field, reaching into a large bag slung over his shoulder, and scatter seeds by hand. Naturally, some of those seeds would land on a well-trodden footpath, where the soil was packed down like a concrete sidewalk. The seed had no chance of sinking in before the birds swooped in for a free snack.

Jesus says this hardened soil represents a hardened heart, a heart that is completely unresponsive to God’s Word. This is the person who hears the Gospel but shrugs it off, rejects it outright, or rationalizes it away.

"There are so many religions in the world, how can Christianity be the only way?"
"I’m a good person. I don’t need saving."
"Maybe I’ll think about God later, but for now, I’ve got my own plans."

What this person doesn’t realize, and what you need to realize, is that there’s a spiritual war happening over every Gospel seed. It’s not just that they’re disinterested. Satan and his demons are actively swooping in to steal the Word before it can take root.

That’s why evangelism is a spiritual battle and requires intentional prayer. Paul describes this reality in 2 Corinthians 4:4, saying: "Satan has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the Gospel that displays the glory of Christ.

They are seeing but not perceiving. Hearing, but not listening. The truth is right in front of them, but their hearts are hardened against it.

So, let me ask you: Where in your life are you hardening your heart toward God’s Word?

Maybe God has been speaking to you about surrender, forgiveness, or repentance, but you’ve ignored it. Maybe He’s nudging you to let go of something that is pulling you away from Him, but you’re resisting.

Don’t let Satan steal what God is trying to plant in your heart.

The Rocky Heart

Jesus explains in Mark 4:16-17: "Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away."

In Jesus’ day, one of the common geological features of ancient Israel was limestone, particularly in the hill country of Judea and Galilee. Beneath the thin layer of soil, there was often a bed of rock, so any seed that landed there would shoot up quickly but wouldn’t survive the heat of summer. Seeds would look promising at first, but because there was no depth, no roots, they would die just as quickly as they sprouted.

Jesus says this is a picture of superficial faith. This is the person who loves everything around the Gospel, but not the Gospel itself.

Maybe they just really enjoy the church music and the emotional high of worship, but there’s no actual surrender to Christ.
Maybe they started coming to church because of a cute girl or a handsome guy, and their "faith" is basically an attempt at Christian matchmaking.
Maybe church is just a great networking opportunity for them, a place to make connections, get clients, or boost their reputation.
Or maybe they love the idea of Jesus as a good moral leader, a wise teacher, or a life coach, but they have never actually submitted to Him as Lord.

At first, everything about their faith looks great. They’re attending every service, singing every song, maybe even serving in some ministry. But then?

Trouble hits. Persecution comes. Life gets hard.

And suddenly, they’re gone.

Jesus says it’s because their faith never really took root, so the moment things got difficult, they walked away from what they were never truly committed to in the first place.

This is exactly what the apostle John was talking about in 1 John 2:19 when he said: "They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."

Maybe you’ve seen this happen before. Someone who was on fire for God, active in ministry, leading worship, even preaching—and then one day, you hear they’ve completely walked away from the faith. And you think, “Wow. Wait, but wasn’t this person a Christian? What happened?”

John tells us what happened: They never truly belonged to Christ.

That’s why this central big idea is so important: THE MOST RELIABLE INDICATOR OF SALVATION IN YOUR LIFE IS FRUIT, NOT JUST PRETTY FLOWERS.

The Thorny Heart

Jesus says in Mark 4:18-19: "Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful."

Let’s break this down.

The seed on the hard ground never even germinates.
The seed on the rocky ground barely grows before withering.
But the seed among thorns actually starts growing, only to get choked out before it can produce any fruit.

And this is where a lot of church-going Christians live.

The thorny heart represents the person who hears the Word, accepts it, and even begins to grow in faith, but then something happens. It’s not persecution that pulls them away, like the rocky soil. It’s not outright rejection, like the hardened soil. Instead, they get slowly suffocated by distractions, desires, and the pursuit of pleasures of life.

This is the heart divided in its affections, a person who wants God but also wants all the “goodies” life has to offer, if not more. Jesus specifically calls out three things that choke spiritual growth along with the worries of life, and those include:

The deceitfulness of wealth: The false promise that money will provide security, happiness, and fulfilment.
The desires to be like others: The constant craving for more, whether it’s success, pleasure, or entertainment.

As I mentioned, for many believers, it’s not suffering that pulls them away from faith, it’s comfort, distraction, and prosperity. In fact, let me say something that might unsettle some people raised in what is referred to as, “prosperity gospel” preaching churches:

Sometimes, the worst thing God can do is give you the wealth you're praying for, because of how quickly it might pull your heart away from Him.

I could give you a list of well-known pastors and ministry leaders, both in Nigeria and overseas, men who once preached the Gospel boldly, but whose love for wealth and power led them to shipwreck their own faith and mislead others. But that’s another blog post.

For now, let me bring this point closer to home, because the thorns may already be choking you, and you don’t even realize it.

Ask yourself:

Has your time on social media, gaming, or binge-watching TV stolen precious moments when you could be reading the Word or praying?
If you've been blessed with financial success, has it made you more self-reliant, trusting in your bank account instead of God's provision?
Did the promotion or career breakthrough you prayed for come with so much work and stress that now you have less time for God, less time for church, and less time for prayer?

These aren’t bad things in themselves, but they become thorns when they start competing with God for your attention, love, and trust.

So, I ask again: What thorns in your life are choking you and making you unfruitful for God’s kingdom?

Because THE MOST RELIABLE INDICATOR OF SALVATION IN YOUR LIFE IS FRUITFULNESS, NOT JUST PRETTY FLOWERS.

The FRUITFUL Heart

Jesus says in Mark 4:20: "Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown."

This isn’t referring to just anyone who wears the title, Christian, but to a follower of Jesus who accepts God’s word, allows it to take root and who ends up bearing real lasting fruit. The good soil represents the heart that is soft, receptive, and ready for transformation, a person who doesn’t just listen to the Gospel but lets it reshape their entire life.

And what does fruitfulness look like? A fruitful Christian is someone who (among many other things):

Shares their faith boldly and consistently.
Leads others to Christ, helping them grow in their walk with God.
Prays for their neighbours and community, interceding for the lost and broken.
Serves the poor and helpless, demonstrating the love of Christ through action.
Uses their spiritual gifts to build up the church, not just sitting on the sidelines.

Fruitfulness is not passive!

Now, in case you’re wondering, “How do I know if I’m good soil?” let me say this clearly: Being a fruitful Christian doesn’t happen by accident.

You don’t just scatter some seeds, cross your fingers, and hope for the best. Anyone who has ever tried to grow a garden knows that soil and young plants require care, work, and cultivation.

You have to prepare the soil, breaking up hard ground, making room for growth.
You have to water it consistently, staying connected to God’s Word and prayer.
You have to expose it to the sun, living in the presence of Christ, the light of the world.
You have to remove weeds, pulling out distractions, sin, and anything that chokes your faith.

As you can see, spiritual fruit requires intentionality. But, how do you cultivate a fruitful Christian life? How do you nurture good soil in your heart? How do you grow spiritually and bear lasting fruit?

Let me wrap this all up by sharing:

10 UNUSUAL HABITS TO HELP YOU CULTIVATE A FRUITFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE

These are uncommon practical steps that will stretch your faith, deepen your walk with God, and make you more spiritually productive.

PRAY FOR SOMEONE WHO IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED: Jesus didn’t come for the popular crowd; He came for the outcasts. Be like Jesus. Pray for someone who might feel invisible, someone in your workplace, school, or church who is often left out.
CONFESS A HIDDEN STRUGGLE TO A TRUSTED FRIEND and ASK THEM TO PRAY FOR YOUR: We confess to God to receive forgiveness, but James 5:16 reminds us that we confess to one another to experience healing. Maybe the breakthrough you need is one honest conversation away?
GIVE AWAY SOMETHING YOU LOVE TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT: Sometimes our possessions control us more than we control them. Be generous. Bless someone with something you truly value. (if you’re under 18 reading this and still love at home, ask your parents first before giving their stuff away!)
UNPLUG FOR 12 HOURS and SPEND TIME READING OR OUTDOORS: Turn off your devices, step outside, or read a book. You might discover you actually have some original thoughts, and maybe even hear Jesus speaking to your heart in the stillness.
PURSUE GODLINESS BOTH PRIVATELY AND PUBLICLY: The qualities you want people to notice in public, start practicing them when no one is watching. Integrity begins in the unseen moments.
USE WHAT YOU’RE GOOD AT TO BLESS OTHERS: Every believer has God-given gifts and abilities. Don’t wait for perfection, use what you have now to help someone. Do it imperfectly, but faithfully.
VOLUNTEER and SERVE IN CHURCH: The church isn’t a show you attend; it’s a family you belong to. Find a way to contribute. Sweep, usher, serve food, sing, just be a part of it.
SPEND ONE HOUR IN PRAYER: In Gethsemane, Jesus asked His disciples to “watch and pray” with Him for one hour. Can you do the same? Set aside a full hour for focused, undistracted time with God and see what happens.
READ A BOOK OF THE BIBLE YOU’VE NEVER READ BEFORE: Pick a book you’ve oft overlooked and dive into it. You might be amazed at what God reveals to you.
TELL SOMEONE ABOUT JESUS: Share your testimony with a stranger in your circle or someone you don’t usually talk to. God arranges divine appointments, just like He did with Zacchaeus. Your story could be exactly what someone needs to hear.

These habits might feel simple, common, possibly even unusual, but think of them like spiritual fertilizer. It doesn’t smell great, and it feels odd that you would put poop on something you will eat, yet fertilizer is exactly what helps plants grow strong and healthy

So, after all we’ve explored, here’s the most important question: If we were to test the soil condition of your heart, what would we find?

Would it be a hardened heart, where the enemy steals the Word before it can take root?
A rocky heart, where faith is shallow and withers when things get tough?
A thorny heart, where distractions and desires choke spiritual growth?
Or would it be good soil, producing a harvest of faithfulness, obedience, and fruitfulness?

May the Lord make our lives fruitful!